PHOTO: Dr. Deborah Rose
Monrovia, Liberia – The United Methodist University (UMU) has announced a distinguished epidemiologist and global health advocate Dr. Deborah Rose will serve as the keynote speaker for its 21st Commencement Convocation, scheduled for March 31, 2026.
Dr. Rose, a respected figure in international public health and sustainable development, brings decades of experience and service to the global stage.
The selection of Dr.Rose as commencement speaker underscores UMU’s commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and global engagement.
Dr. Rose has served as an epidemiologist with the National Center for Health Statistics under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Hyattsville, Maryland. In addition to her work in the United States, she is the president of the Helping Africa Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care, education, and social welfare conditions across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the past several years, Dr. Rose has collaborated with partners in Ghana and the United States to develop and strengthen computer-based learning centers aligned with sustainable development goals. Through the Helping Africa Foundation, she has supported the delivery of the West African curriculum at the junior high school level, using innovative, locally driven information technology solutions.
Her work also extends to housing development initiatives aimed at creating affordable, middle-class communities in West Africa, modeled after systems in the United States. Additionally, Dr. Rose has partnered with The Yamoransa Model, which focuses on equipping students with practical skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
Dr. Rose’s contributions to education and public service span several prestigious Ivy league institutions in the USA.
She previously served as a visiting scholar at Harvard University FXB Center for Health and Human Rights from 2015 to 2023 and has held teaching roles at Yale University School of Nursing and the Yale University School of Medicine. Earlier in her career, she was taught at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
A founding member of the Yale Alumni Service Corps, Dr. Rose has participated in numerous international service missions, contributing to community development efforts around the world.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Dr. Rose was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Education in 2023 by the University of Cape Coast. She also holds leadership roles as president of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation and serves as trustee and treasurer of the Jonathan Edwards Trust, while also advising the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Cllr. Medina A.Wesseh, the Interim Management Team Chairperson observed that Dr. Rose’s presence at this year’s graduation will inspire the graduating class to embrace service, innovation, and leadership in addressing global and local challenges.
The March 31st ceremony is expected to bring together hundreds of graduates, faculty members, and distinguished guests as UMU celebrates another milestone in its mission to provide quality, values-driven education in Liberia.